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This page is specifically for playwrights. Here are national opportunities to submit your work, unsolicited, year round. Currently, this only list opportunities for submission towards a production. For information about publishing and residencies, please contact rachel@arkansastheatrecollective.org. For weekly submission posts, check out our Facebook page.

I don’t think most people throw up when they’re proposed to by the love of their life?

LUCY

I’m not most people. Danny knows that.

KEV

And I don’t think most people eat Skittles while they meditate?

LUCY

Please refer to my earlier statement.

Beat.

KEV

You don’t seem fine.

LUCY

Kev, I swear. I’ve never been better.

KEV

Danny’s afraid you’ll say no.

LUCY gets up to start cleaning. There’s not much to

clean. She still tries anyways.

LUCY

How’s Joanna?

KEV

No. Don’t change the subject. What is all of this?

LUCY

All of what?

KEV

These books, this whatever you were doing when I walked in, avoiding Danny like you’re twelve and he just—

LUCY

I’m not avoiding Danny.

KEV

He asked you to marry him.

LUCY

I know.

KEV

And you have yet to respond.

LUCY

It’s a big question.

KEV

You’ve been with him for years.

LUCY

Only four.

KEV

Only four?

LUCY

You and Joanna dated for what six years?

KEV

And married for a year. What? Are you afraid of getting divorced?

LUCY

That’s not it.

KEV

Then what?

LUCY sits back down.

LUCY

Remember when I was fifteen and I decided I didn’t want to be…I don’t know…whatever we were. I wanted to be something with an actual church.

KEV

Yeah. And you chose to be Catholic. And you’d take all those bus rides to mass. You were obsessed.

KEV starts laughing to himself.

LUCY

Stop it.

KEV

Sorry. So what? Because Danny’s Jewish you don’t want to marry him? He told you he was Jewish when you two first got together.

LUCY

I know.

KEV

So…

LUCY slides further into the couch.

LUCY

I told him I’d convert. If we ever got married. But that I wouldn’t do it unless we were for sure getting married.

KEV

So you don’t want to be Jewish?

LUCY

No. That’s not it.

KEV

You should call him, Lucy.

LUCY

Well maybe that’s it.

KEV

Okay well then you need to—

LUCY

But then that’s so not it at the same time.

KEV

Right.

LUCY

You’re supposed to join a religion because you believe in it. And there are sooo many. You’re not supposed to join because you love someone who just happens to already be that religion right? Shouldn’t I believe in what I’m basically putting all my spiritual stock in?

KEV

What do you have against Judaism?

LUCY

Nothing. I just…I don’t know anything about it.

KEV

Okay. Then shouldn’t all these books be on Judaism? And not the whole spiritual spectrum?

LUCY

I didn’t think he’d ever ask me to marry him.

KEV

Seriously?

LUCY

Well no, not seriously. But…seriously.

LUCY gets up again. This time she’s not sure why.

KEV

Do you love him?

LUCY

Of course I do. I just don’t know that I’ll love his religion.

KEV

So that’s why you’re “God-shopping”?

LUCY nods.

LUCY

If I’m going to eternal damnation or save my soul, I want to at least be able to make a choice about it.

Pause.

LUCY

I love him.

KEV

I know.

LUCY

But this is a big step.

KEV

I know.

LUCY

A big scary step.

Pause.

KEV

Well, being Catholic is kind of like being Jewish but with more stuff. So maybe being Jewish will be easier.

LUCY

What?

KEV

You know, only half the Bible this time.

LUCY

That’s not how it works. (pause) There’s no hell though. That’s kind of nice.

KEV

Yeah.

LUCY

I should’ve never made that promise.

KEV

No.

LUCY

But I just didn’t think…it was a one night stand. Who falls for the guy they have a one night stand with?

KEV

Apparently you do.

Beat.

LUCY

But what if I go to hell?

KEV

Apparently there is no hell.

LUCY

But what if there is?

KEV

Lucy.

LUCY

What if I die and then I’m like “Damn you, Danny.” Literally.

KEV

What if you turn into one of those angry old people who lost the love of their life over something stupid?

LUCY

Religion isn’t stupid.

Pause.

KEV

Do you love him?

LUCY nods.

KEV

Then call him. Figure this out. Together. And if you go to hell, at least you’ll have the love of your life there with you.

I mean, men only really want to sleep with you. Women hate you and blame you for, like, everything. Everyone you date is trying to get back at you for some crazy shit that happened to them in high school.

LINA

Right.

HANNAH

And it’s like the whole world just expects things from me. I walk out of a crowded bar and I’m just as drunk as everybody else but I get pulled over by the cops. Not everyone else. Me.

LINA

Oh.

HANNAH

And you know why?

Pause. LINA continue to look through her magazine.

HANNAH waits for her to respond.

HANNAH

And you wanna know why?

LINA

(completely uninterested)

Sure.

HANNAH

It’s because I’m attractive. Obviously.

LINA

Obviously.

HANNAH

Like it’s unsafe for me to walk any where by myself.

LINA

Oh.

HANNAH

You’re not listening to me. You don’t get it.

LINA closes the magazine and turns to give

HANNAH her full attention.

LINA

I don’t get it. I’m sorry that you feel that way.

HANNAH

I mean, seriously. I get cat-called every day. Every. Day.

LINA

That must suck.

Silence.

HANNAH

Where is Luce? She should be here by now.

LINA

You know Luce. She’s always late.

HANNAH

Well it’s really fucked up for her to be late. To this.

LINA

She’ll be here.

HANNAH

Remind me about this when she gets married. Then I’ll be late to her bridal shower make-over.

LINA immediately starts laughing uncontrollably.

HANNAH is not amused.

HANNAH

You’re an asshole, Lina.

LINA continues laughing.

HANNAH

She’s going to get married eventually. To someone. It’s really wrong of you—

LINA stops laughing.

LINA

What? No. I—what? No, Hannah. She’s obviously going to get married. She’s been dating that same guy for like five years. I was laughing because as if Luce would have us all get make-overs before her wedding. She’s probably not even going to have a wedding. You know what? She’s probably already married.

HANNAH

She wouldn’t do that to us.

LINA

Yeah. She would.

Pause.

HANNAH

Where is she?

LINA

Do you want me to text her?

HANNAH shakes her head and pulls out her phone.

HANNAH

No. I’ll call her.

HANNAH dials the number and puts it on speaker.

LUCE

(v.o.)

Hey, I—

HANNAH

Where the hell are you? How could you do this to me? You realize I get married in two days right? Two days! We don’t have time for this, Luce. Where are you?

LUCE

Hannah, I—

HANNAH

I am beyond offended by your behavior. Like beyond the point of—How could you do this to me?

LUCE

Hannah—

HANNAH

Like, I always knew you were selfish but this is just…abhorable behavior, Luce. If I could, at this point, I’d get a new maid of honor. What? Are you stuck in traffic, Luce? Don’t you know the city well enough by now to know that—

A click sound.

HANNAH

Luce?!

LINA

It sounds like she hung up.

HANNAH

That ungrateful…do you what I have done for her? You remember college don’t you? Nobody would even talk to her. Even look at her. This is infuriating.

LINA

Hannah—

HANNAH

No. Do not defend her. I am always there for her. All I want, literally, all I want is to make sure that my wedding photos look nice. We’re going to look back on these days for the rest of our lives. Don’t you want to look nice?

LINA

We can just start without her.

HANNAH

No. We can’t. It’s supposed to be the three of us. Not the two of us. She’s ruining everything.

Pause.

LINA

So, what’s Tim doing today?

HANNAH shrugs angrily.

LINA

Maybe he could be our third.

HANNAH glares at LINA.

LINA

Or not.

LINA pulls out her phone and begins texting.

HANNAH

What are you doing?

LINA

Texting her.

HANNAH

Fuck her.

LINA

Hannah.

HANNAH

No seriously. She’s being a real cunt right now.

HANNAH angrily grabs one of the magazines. LINA

finishes her text message. They sit in silence.

HANNAH’s phone rings.

HANNAH

What the fuck do you want?—Oh. Hi. Tim—No. Just Luce being Luce.—Well, she was supposed to—you’re where?—I don’t—what happened?—Oh, I—Um, wait a minute.

HANNAH covers the phone with her hand and

turns to LINA.

HANNAH

Something’s gone wrong with the cake. I’ll be right back.

HANNAH gets up and starts to walk away.

HANNAH

(as she’s walking away)

Well tell the baker to go fuck himself with his problems because I…

HANNAH exits. LINA watches her go and then

reaches for a magazine. Pause.

LUCE enters. She is bloody, her clothes are torn,

and she is limping.

LUCE

Well, I’m here.

LINA

Holy shit, Luce. What happened?

LUCE

You wouldn’t believe me.

LINA

Try me.

LUCE

I was attacked.

LINA

Well obviously. What happened?

LUCE

Some guy. First he was saying—I don’t know…racist flavored compliments, I guess.

LINA

What?

LUCE

Like “Oh hey chocolate bunny, how’d you get so much ass?” Or “Damn girl one night with me and your hair will be kinked for life.”

LINA

What does that even mean?

LUCE

Who the fuck knows? So anyway, I’m like “Dude. Thanks but I’m taken” and he’s just not having it.

LINA

Oh no.

LUCE

Yeah.

LINA

Did the police show up?

LUCE

Yeah. I mean there’s not much they could do. He didn’t rape me or anything. And I definitely got a few good hits in there so…anyways, I’m here.

LUCE sits down.

LINA

Hannah will never forgive you if she sees you like this.

LUCE

Hannah will never believe me. Shitty things only happen to pretty girls, remember?

Pause.

LINA

Luce, you can barely walk. Go to the hospital. Call Ben. Oh my God. Ben. Does he know?

LUCE

He’s the one who dropped me off here.

LINA

Call him back. Tell him you need to go to the hospital.

LUCE

Lina, I’m fine.

LINA

Luce—

LUCE

Alright, alright. I’ll go.

LUCE gets up and starts to walk away.

LINA

Hey Luce?

LUCE

(as she’s walking away)

Yeah?

LINA

Are you and Ben already married?

LUCE smiles and then limps out. LINA reaches for

a magazine. Beat.

HANNAH re-enters. She notices the blood on the

seat and then looks at LINA confused.

HANNAH

What the hell is that?

LINA

Blood.

HANNAH

Well no shit. Who’s is it?

LINA

Oh. Um…this woman. She came in, was attacked in the streets by a cat-caller, and then I convinced her to go to the hospital.

HANNAH

Poor thing. He didn’t get her face too bad did he? I mean, that would suck for her if he like broke her nose and then her face was messed up.

SETTING: A very small town outside the city limits of Helena, Arkansas. Present Day.

FRAN hustles around the kitchen trying to get

everything ready. After a few beats, ALEX and

LIAM enter.

FRAN

Oh. I—hi. I just—

LIAM

Hey ma.

LIAM goes to kiss his mother. She turns reluctantly.

FRAN

I was hoping I had more time. The house is a mess. I wasn’t ready.

ALEX

Everything looks great. It’s way cleaner than our house has ever been.

Awkward silence.

ALEX

My house. I’m sorry. You’re in a couple so long that you forget. Oh, I’m—my house. Cleaner than my house has ever looked.

LIAM

Ma, this is Alexis.

FRAN

Yes. I figured. Hello Alexis.

ALEX

It’s Alex actually.

FRAN clears her throat.

FRAN

Right. Alex. Well sit down. Make yourself comfortable then. You two hungry?

LIAM nods as ALEX shakes her head.

LIAM

We haven’t eaten since morning. We’d love something.

ALEX

But only if you don’t mind.

LIAM sets a comforting hand on ALEX. FRAN nods.

FRAN

I’ve got some steak and tomatoes in the fridge if you—

ALEX

Oh I—

LIAM

Alex is a vegetarian, ma. I told you—

FRAN

Right, right. I forgot. Let me see. I must have something.

FRAN goes to look in the fridge. ALEX squirms

uncomfortably.

FRAN

You know what? I’ll just head to the garden. I’ll make us a casserole.

ALEX

Oh, you don’t have to—

FRAN

It’s not a problem. I’ll be right back.

FRAN exits.

ALEX

She hates me.

LIAM

You’re fine.

ALEX

I just—does she not know we live together?

LIAM

You’ve still got your old place so….

ALEX

LIAM

It’s fine. She’s probably just excited you’re an actual woman. With a name like Alex…

ALEX

Great. She’s homophobic too.

LIAM

I’m only kidding. Calm down. It’s not like—

FRAN enters holding vegetables.

ALEX

Well at least I know not to bring up your father.

FRAN

What about Cletus?

ALEX tenses up. She didn’t notice FRAN enter.

ALEX

Oh. I—

LIAM

Ma, what you got there? Your garden get bigger?

Pause.

ALEX

I need to—may I go to your bathroom?

FRAN

It’s down the hall to the left.

ALEX gets up and leaves.

FRAN

She don’t know, do she?

LIAM

No ma. I didn’t tell her.

FRAN

You realize it’d be the end of all of us if anyone found out. Christ, Liam, how could you be so irresponsible? You know, Jimmy just got into Harvard and how proud I been of him. And now you went ahead and—

LIAM

Ma, I didn’t tell her. ‘Sides even if I did, she’s not a stranger, she’s going to be my wife.

FRAN

Hell, Liam. My mama don’t even know. Boy, you done messed—

LIAM

Ma! I didn’t tell her.

Silence. ALEX returns. She sits down and crosses

her arms. She is at a loss.

FRAN

So Liam tells me you’re from Portland?

ALEX nods.

FRAN

What brings you to Arkansas?

ALEX

Teach for America. I work at Kipp.

Tense silence.

FRAN

Liam didn’t tell me you worked for Teach for America.

LIAM

Ma—

FRAN

At Kipp.

LIAM

Ma, Alex is just really serious about service work and thought that—

FRAN

Oh I know what she thought. You know how Teach for America works, don’t you, Alex?

ALEX

I know that it works if that’s what you’re asking.

FRAN

Oh does it? Well somebody light me on fire and call me a pig because—

LIAM

This is her last year but she’s choosing to stay. And work at the school. She’s not just leaving, mama.

FRAN moves to the vegetables and starts cutting

them to prepare the casserole. Long, uncomfortable

silence.

FRAN

(to LIAM)

So you’re moving back then?

LIAM

I am.

FRAN

And what will you do while your—while Alex is working at Kipp? Teaching.

ALEX

I’m sorry. Do you have a problem with teachers? I mean I can understand having a problem with me being from the city. Or being friends with gay people or something but teaching? How could anyone—

FRAN

You think what you’re doing is teaching? What you’re doing is prepping. Prepping kids to take bullshit test so that they pass along without knowing a goddamn thing and then when they get to college, they don’t know left from right because all they know—

LIAM

Ma!

Silence.

LIAM

Listen. If the two of you can’t get along, then fine. Ma, we’ll head into town and go visit—

FRAN

No. Stay. I’m sorry.

ALEX

I’m sorry too.

FRAN

For the record, I don’t care about your gay friends or whatever.

LIAM

Ma used to be a principal. She’s just really passionate about learning.

FRAN

Got my phD at Brown and everything.

ALEX

Oh. I—I didn’t know that.

FRAN

I figured.

Silence.

FRAN

I suppose you’ll be wanting Sugar’s ring.

ALEX

Sugar?

FRAN

My grandmother.

LIAM

Actually, I was wondering if you still had Cammie’s.

Silence.

LIAM

I know it’s wrong to ask for it but—

FRAN

You’re goddamn right it’s wrong to ask for it.

LIAM

But it’s not like you need it anymore and it means a lot to me.

FRAN

To you? It means a lot to you? What the hell do you think it means to me?

LIAM

I was figuring nothin’ considerin’.

FRAN

Considerin what, Liam?

LIAM

Ma, come on. You don’t need it. You don’t even wear it.

FRAN

That don’t change the fact that it’s mine.

ALEX

Well technically isn’t it Carrie’s?

FRAN

It’s Cammie!

LIAM

Alex, don’t—

FRAN

And not that it’s any of your business, Alexis, but it was my wedding ring. You must think I bout lost my mind if I’m going to—

LIAM

You hated Cletus.

FRAN

Last I checked I wasn’t the only one.

LIAM

I’m just trying to make a bad thing right.

FRAN

This ain’t the way to do it.

LIAM

Well it’s a start, ain’t it?

FRAN slams down her cutting knife.

FRAN

You selfish bastard. You think this city bitch is worthy of that ring?

ALEX

Hey!

FRAN

Shut up and stay out of this. This don’t concern you.

LIAM

He left the ring to me.

FRAN

Burn in hell. You know he was so drunk that night. You asked him right before—You had damn good timing, I’ll say that.

LIAM

Ma, it’s just a ring.

Silence.

FRAN

Alex, what you don’t understand is that ring was passed down for centuries. The stone in it is—(pause)—The stone in it is from the Treasure of Lima. You know, the stolen one.

ALEX

I—

FRAN

Look it up when you’re bored. The point is the ring is literally priceless. I don’t know how the family came up with it but—

LIAM

That whole family line was crooks and thieves. I’m not surprised at all.

ALEX

Liam, don’t talk about—

FRAN

No. The Porra family was full of crooks. Liam’s right.

ALEX

The Porra family?

LIAM

My dad’s family way back was Spanish.

FRAN

But then somebody married a Gorecki and they haven’t been able to get rid of the last name since.

Silence.

LIAM

Ma, Alex is about to be a part of the family. Just give us the ring. Please.

FRAN

Your father may have been good for nothing but that ring—Liam. It’s too much to ask.

LIAM

Ma, don’t you remember what he was like?

FRAN

Liam—

LIAM

He’d beat you, ma. All of us. He was a drunk. And he was just—he’s where he belongs now, mama. No point of keeping bad memories.

ALEX

Then why do you want to give me those memories?

LIAM

I don’t. I want to change them. I want to turn something bad, something awful, into something amazing.

Pause. FRAN leaves the room. ALEX and LIAM

sit in silence. FRAn returns holding the ring.

FRAN

Taking this ring as your wedding ring means you’re part of the family now.

LIAM

Ma—

FRAN

Is that what you want, Alex?

ALEX nods hesitantly.

FRAN

FRAN grabs ALEX hands. She removes her

engagement ring and tries on the new ring.

FRAN

Good. It fits.

She takes the ring off.

FRAN

We shot him.

FRAN gets up, grabs a bottle of whisky, and three

glasses. She pours a little bit in each glass.

ALEX

Excuse me?

FRAN

Cletus. We shot him. Liam, Jimmy, and I. Planned it out and shot him in the woods.

LIAM

FRAN downs her whisky. Both LIAM and ALEX sip

theirs. FRAN pours more whisky into her glass.

FRAN

He was an absolute brute, you know. Fucking terrible. I don’t regret it for second. But if you’re going to wear his family ring, you best know what happened to him.

ALEX is frozen. She can’t speak.

FRAN

Thing is, now that you know, you can’t tell anybody. Or I’ll shoot you too.

FRAN finishes her drink.

FRAN

I’m not about to lose my freedom because some Teach for America cunt can’t keep her mouth shut.

ALEX

Excuse me?

FRAN

You heard me.

Silence.

LIAM

Alex, it’s way more complicated than—

ALEX

No. Don’t. You killed someone. You all killed someone. Over what? And you didn’t even…Why hasn’t anybody wondered where he is? Didn’t the police look into it? How could you be so calm about it?

LIAM

You didn’t know him.

ALEX

I didn’t know him? That’s all you have to say? Why hasn’t anyone looked into his death?

FRAN

Didn’t nobody care he was missing. Everyone just figured he’d moved.

Pause.

ALEX

Oh, I can’t—you people are despicable.

ALEX stands up.

ALEX

(to LIAM)

Find your own way home. I’ll have your stuff packed by the time you make back into town. Goodbye Mrs. Goreki. Hope to never see you again.

(an excerpt from the first scene of Reason of Doubt. Dana, who works as a rape-crisis counselor, has just found out she has been accused of rape)

DANA

Do you remember anything at all from that night?

JESS

What?

DANA

Anything at this point would help.

JESS

What exactly are you asking me Dana?

DANA

Jess. You were there…

JESS

I left early.

DANA

Well do you remember seeing anything?

JESS

I remember telling you not to get drunk. And you promising me that you wouldn’t.

DANA

I didn’t promise—

JESS

Yes you did.

DANA

If I did, I’m sorry. I am so sorry. And I swear after this blows over, I will finally go to AA. But, right now, I need your help. I have no idea how to fight this.

JESS re-opens the file.

JESS

(reading) Is there anything you didn’t admit to?

DANA

I admitted everything I remembered. I had to write something.

JESS

Well this looks more like a confession than a statement.

Beat.

JESS

Who’s working the case?

DANA

Sarah.

JESS

So why are you talking to me about it? If I’m not assigned to the case, it’s against—

DANA

I know the policy, Jess. I also know I’m totally fucked. I have no way to prove I’m innocent.

JESS

What makes you so sure that you are?

DANA

This is not in my nature. I am not capable of this.

JESS

We’re all capable of—

DANA

Jess, you can’t honestly think I did this.

JESS

I think you’re an alcoholic who likes sex. A lot.

DANA

Jess!

JESS

She’s not fucking around, Dana. This is a serious accusation.

DANA

I know but I—it’s bullshit. She’s just upset.

JESS

Upset? I think I’d be upset too if I thought I was raped by someone.

DANA

She wasn’t raped. It’s a huge misunderstanding.

JESS

I bet.

DANA

There must be some way to fight this. And you’re about the only person who seems to how.

JESS

Being innocent. That’s how you fight this.

DANA

What good is innocence with no proof? I just need advice. Anything.

JESS

Advice?

DANA

Yes. Please.

JESS

And you swear on your father’s grave that you will go to AA if I help you get through this?

DANA

Yes. I swear.

Beat.

JESS

Delete your Facebook. Go through your emails and text messages and anything that even mentions her name and delete that too.

DANA

Wait. Why? Doesn’t she have a record of text messages and emails too?

JESS

Yeah. Possibly. But in the chance that she deleted them, you want to make sure all of yours are gone too. You never know. It’s precautionary measure. Plus some phones auto delete text messages when they get too full. You can honestly never be too careful.

DANA

Oh. Okay.

JESS

Talk to no one about the case. Make sure her name never comes out of your mouth. Go to class and home and that’s it. Be as low-key as possible.

DANA

Okay. Thank you.

JESS

Good. Now get out. I have to get ready for my case. Which is in like fifteen minutes.